Hey Scotty & Community i hope you are all doing great.
i have a 2023 Lexus GX 460 with 800 miles
ever since i got the thing the temperature gauge won’t go above the level in the picture here : https://postimg.cc/cKhX2ZGv
this is the operating temperature it reaches
coolant level is full
both fans work perfectly
When i do a cold start it starts at C and slowly moves to this position after a few minutes and stays there it does not go up anymore.
shouldn't it reach the middle ?
is this normal ?
thank you all.
there are no units or numbers on that gauge so it's pretty arbitrary. Kind of a "dummy" gauge.
If you're worried, then use an OBD interface to read the exact temperature that the coolant sensor is reading. (should be around 90C/194F I believe)
Thanks for your answer Joe. OBD 2 shows temperature at about 185F after driving the vehicle for about an hour
Some cars "buffer" the temperature gauge with the computer and don't move it up beyond a predetermined point unless overheating is detected. (Mine is like that. I think it's idiotic, makes the temperature gauge not much more useful than a warning light.)
I see, well at least it works so we know if the engine overheats even if it is basically a fancy dummy light
Thanks for your input Chuck i appreciate it.
shouldn't it reach the middle ?
Who said it has to reach the middle? Use a scan tool to get the engine temperature. On my vehicles it’s below the middle but yet coolant temperature (per my scan tool) shows between roughly 188 and 195 F.
I owned a 2011 crown victoria before the GX and the temperature gauge always stayed in the middle after the car reached operating temperature that’s why i thought this was a little weird. OBD 2 scan shows engine temperature is about 185 F after driving for about an hour.
Thanks for your input i appreciate it.